Optimum coordination of overcurrent relays in distribution systems using differential evolution and dual simplex methods

Abstract

Overcurrent (OC) relay plays a major role in power distribution system. It protects electrical power systems against excessive current which are caused by faults like short circuits, ground faults, etc. It is necessary to clear the fault within a least possible time. The optimum time coordination of overcurrent relay in distribution network solved using Differential Evolution method and Dual Simplex method is presented in this paper. These methods are used to find the optimized values of time multiplier settings (TMS) of relays using linear programming problem (LPP). Differential evolution considers the present existing constraints to form the optimized values using mutation mechanism. Dual simplex gives the optimum solution without introducing any artificial variables. Differential Evolution and Dual simplex technique are presented in this paper for optimum time coordination of OC relays in a radial fed distribution system.